JP2003344900A - Exposure control system and camera having same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low cost camera exposure control system having a flash illumination system that can be enabled and disabled by a user and that automatically adjusts exposure characteristics to optimize the appearance of images captured in either flash or ambient light photography modes. <P>SOLUTION: The camera exposure control system 54 has a shutter 60 movable during an exposure period through a path of travel between a 1st position and a 2nd position and a detector to sense the shutter 60 and to generate a signal when the shutter 60 is at a flash trigger position in the path of travel. A flash circuit 100 is provided and receives the signal generated by the detector causing a flash of light to discharge when the signal is received. A stop 120 is also provided. The stop 120 is selectably movable from a location out of the path of travel of the shutter 60. The location of the stop 120 determines whether the detector can sense the shutter 60 during the exposure. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic camera,
More particularly, it relates to a photographic camera having a flash illuminator.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional cameras capture an image on a photosensitive member by exposing the photosensitive member to light from a scene. Such photosensitive members are generally capable of recording useful images when exposed to a range of light. Therefore,
In conventional cameras, the exposure is carefully adjusted so that the light from the scene illuminating the photosensitive member is within a predetermined range.

Exposure adjustment is generally controlled by a shutter mechanism. The shutter mechanism exposes the photosensitive member to light from the scene for a predetermined time, known as the exposure time. The exposure time required to form a useful image on a photosensitive member is generally inversely proportional to the amount of light from the scene. Therefore, many cameras feature an exposure control device that monitors shooting conditions such as ambient light in a scene and causes a shutter mechanism to correct the exposure time in proportion to the amount of light in the scene. This optimizes the appearance of the image captured on the photosensitive member. Cameras often incorporate a flash device that emits a flash of light to provide supplemental illumination of the scene. Some flash camera exposure controllers have adapted the operation of the shutter mechanism such that the exposure can be modified accordingly.

Such an adaptive exposure control device is complicated and therefore difficult to design, manufacture and mount on a camera. For this reason, such an exposure control device is usually installed in a more expensive point and shoot single-lens reflex camera.

A lower cost exposure control approach is to provide a camera with a constant exposure time. This constant exposure time is calibrated so that the camera can take an acceptable image under a wide range of conditions, including ambient light images and flash images. However, this solution
The problem is that the camera is not optimized enough to capture images at the extremes of these ranges.

An example of such a camera is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-2.
No. 78,529A. The camera disclosed in this publication includes an exposure control device having a movable shutter, and a camera body having different positions for receiving a stop that limits a movement path of a shutter blade during exposure. When manufacturing the camera, set the stop to one of the above positions.
Place one. When recycling the camera, the manufacturer moves this stop to reduce or expand the shutter path. By reducing or expanding the path of movement of the shutter, the exposure time can be shortened or extended and the same camera body can be used to accommodate the exposure requirements of different film, flash and lens configurations. However, what is important here is that the position of the stop, and thus the exposure time, is fixed until the next time the camera is recycled.

Thus, there is a need for a low cost camera exposure controller that adapts the exposure to optimize the appearance of the captured image.

An attempt to meet this demand has been made in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
No. 8-211,447. The publication discloses a shutter mechanism including a shutter whose movement path is limited by a stop member. The stop member is movable to adjust the exposure. The opening provided in the cover allows the user to manually move the stop member. A bias spring that drives the shutter is also connected to the stop member. As the stop member moves, the amount of bias applied to the shutter changes. As a result, the speed at which the shutter moves during exposure changes. This device requires the user of the camera to determine the appropriate speed setting for a particular photographic environment. However, such judgments are difficult even for advanced amateurs.

If such speed control is performed in a camera that further includes a flash device that allows the user to selectively permit and prohibit operation, the above determination becomes more difficult. This depends on whether the scene has flash lighting or not.
This is because it may have a great influence on the determination as to whether the specific speed is appropriate. Cameras with such user-actuated flash devices are well known. An example of a camera equipped with a user-actuated flash is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-282,088
60A. This camera is equipped with a flash illumination circuit that emits a flash when the switch is closed. The switch is a two-contact switch, which is controllably prohibited from operation by a user-controlled insulator located between the two contacts. As a result, the engagement between the contact portions is avoided, and the operation of the flash is prohibited. A similar device is used in JP-A No. 11-282,060A. However, in this device, both contact portions are bent away from each other to prevent the contact portions from engaging when the shutter blade contacts the switch.

[0010]

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-11-64,940

[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-278,529

[Patent Document 3] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 8-212,447

[Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-282,060

[0011]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-6494
No. 0 shows a flash lighting circuit with a switch having on and off positions, the lighting charging and discharging circuit is forbidden by the switch. This circuit requires that the flash lighting circuit be electrically adapted to accommodate the deactivation switch. Such a camera is
While providing the ability to selectively permit or inhibit flash operation, exposure conditions cannot be optimized to reflect flash conditions.

[0012] Therefore, a low illumination device is provided with a flash illuminator that can be activated and deactivated by the user and that automatically adjusts the exposure characteristics to optimize the appearance of images taken in either flash or ambient light photography modes. There is a need for cost cameras and camera exposure controls.

[0013]

In a first aspect of the present invention, a camera exposure control device is provided. During the exposure period, the camera exposure control device detects a shutter that can move in the movement path between the first position and the second position and a shutter, and outputs a signal when the shutter is at the flash trigger position in the movement path. And a detector to generate. A flash circuit is provided to receive the signal generated by the detector,
Flash a flash when a signal is received. A stop is further provided, and the stop is selectively movable from a position outside the movement path of the shutter to a position inside the movement path of the shutter. The position of this stop determines whether the detector can detect the shutter during exposure.

In another aspect of the invention, a camera is provided that includes a housing having an opening through which light from a scene can enter. An imaging gate is provided that positions the imaging surface that receives light from the scene. The shutter can move along the movement path between the first position and the second position during the exposure period. In the first position,
The shutter blocks light from the scene from illuminating the imaging surface, and in the second position, the shutter allows light from the scene to reach the imaging surface. The detector detects the shutter and produces a signal when the shutter is at the flash trigger position in the path of travel. The flash circuit receives the signal generated by the detector and emits a flash when the shutter electrically engages the contact. The stop can be selectively moved from a position outside the movement path of the shutter to a position inside the movement path of the shutter. The position of this stop determines whether the shutter can engage the contact during exposure.

[0015]

1 and 2 show one embodiment of a camera 20 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the camera 20 includes a first cover 22 and a second cover 24.
Have. A frame 26 is provided between the first cover 22 and the second cover 24. The frame 26 may be a component that is separate from the first cover 22 but is joined to the first cover 22. Alternatively, the frame 26
It can also be formed wholly or partly by the features of the first cover 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the camera 20 records an image on a photosensitive member that includes a film 42, which is at least partially disposed in the film canister 40. The frame 26 has a film canister holder 32 and a film supply reel area 34, and an image capturing area 36 is formed between the film canister holder 32 and the film supply reel area 34.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the film canister holder 32 includes a length of film 42.
Is adapted to accommodate a film canister 40 including. The film 42 is pulled out from the film canister 40, passes through the image capturing area 36, and is wound around the film supply reel 38 provided in the film supply reel area 34. During film winding, the winding mechanism 30 engages the hub 44 and pulls the film 42 through the image capture area 36 and into the canister 40. It should be noted that other conventional methods can be used to move the film 42 between the film canister holder 32 and the film supply reel 38.

The first cover 22 has a light aperture 48 that is in line with the image capture area 36. A lens 52 is located in the light aperture 48 and focuses light from the scene to form an image on the film 42 during exposure. An exposure controller 54 is located between the lens 52 and the image capture area 36. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the exposure control device 54 includes a flash board 56 and a shutter mechanism 60. The shutter mechanism 60 has a shutter blade 62. The illustrated shutter blade 62 is positioned collinear with the lens 52 and the image capture area 36 and is located in front of a light path 58 that allows light from the scene to pass through the film 42 and prevents light from passing through the light path. ing. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the flash board 56 is bonded to the camera frame 26, which acts as a base and supports both the flash board 56 and the shutter mechanism 60.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, one of the exposure control devices 54 is shown.
A front view and a front perspective view of the embodiment are respectively shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the exposure controller 54
Includes a shutter mechanism, a flash device and a controller. The shutter mechanism 60 includes a movable shutter blade 62 rotatably attached to the swivel shaft 64, an elastic member attachment portion 66, and an elastic member 68. The elastic member 68 joins the shutter blade 62 to the elastic member attachment portion 66. In the illustrated embodiment, the shutter blade 62, the swivel shaft 64, the elastic member attachment portion 66, and the elastic member 68 are supported by an arbitrary spacer 70. The spacer 70 lifts the shutter blade 62, the pivot 64, and the elastic member 68 above the upper surface 72 of the frame 26. The spacer 70 includes the image capturing area 36 and the light opening 4.
8 and a passage 74 aligned with the optical passage 58,
Allow light from the scene to pass through to film 42.

The shutter blade 62 is rotatable between a first position shown in FIG. 3 and a second position shown in FIG. When in the first position, the shutter blades 62 prevent light from traveling from the scene through the passages 74 to the film 42. In the illustrated embodiment,
The shutter blade 62 is normally biased so as to be located at the first position between exposures. This biasing force (bias) is applied by the elastic member 68,
Pulls the shutter blade 62 to the first position. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first position means that the elastic member 68 pulls the shutter blade 62 to cause the spacer 7 to move.
0 is defined as the position where the shutter blade engages stop 78. The shutter blade 62 is held at this position by the urging force applied by the elastic member 68, and the film 42 is prevented from being inadvertently exposed to light.

In order to capture the image on the film 42, the shutter blade 62 must first be attached to the first shutter blade 62.
It moves rapidly from the position to the second position and finally moves rapidly to the first position during the exposure cycle. For this purpose, it is necessary to drive the shutter blade 62 against the biasing force given by the elastic member 68. The shutter blade 62 can be driven from the first position to the second position by using various conventional mechanisms. An example of such a mechanism is an elastically deformable high energy lever 80. High energy lever 8 between exposures
0 is latched by the latch 82. During film winding, the film winding mechanism 30 elastically deforms the high energy lever 80. As a result, potential energy is accumulated in the high energy lever 80. When the trigger button 84 is pressed, the latch 8
2 releases the high energy lever 80. The high energy lever 80 is provided on the shutter drive surface 88 of the shutter blade 62.
A latch drive surface 86 for applying energy released to the. The released stored potential energy is sufficient to drive the shutter blade 62 to move rapidly from the first position to the second position.

As shown in FIG. 4, the shutter blade 62 that has reached the second position has a post 92 having a contact portion 94.
Clash with. Due to this collision, the high energy lever 80
The energy applied to the shutter blade 62 by the is exhausted. As a result, the elastic member 68 causes the shutter blade 6 to move.
2 is quickly returned to the first position.

Thus, the shutter mechanism 60 can provide an exposure time determined by the amount of time required for the shutter blade 62 to move from the first position to the second position and back to the first position. Recognize. Therefore, the post 92
The position of has a significant effect on the exposure time. The exposure time is lengthened by disposing the post 92 at a position that requires more rotational movement of the shutter blade 62 in the exposure cycle. Similarly, the post 9 is placed at a position where the rotational movement of the shutter blade 62 during the exposure cycle is less required.
If 2 is arranged, the exposure time is shortened.

The exposure control device 54 further includes a flash circuit. The flash circuit includes a flash capacitor 102, a power supply 104, a flash charging circuit 106, a flash discharging circuit 108, and a flash charging control switch 1.
10 and a flash tube 112. Prior to flash exposure, flash charge control switch 110
Is pressed. The flash discharge circuit 108 is connected between the flash capacitor 102 and the power supply 104. The flash charging circuit 106 is operated by the flash charging control switch 110. In response to the closing of the flash charge control switch 110, the flash charge circuit 1
06 draws electric power from the power supply 104 and supplies the electric power to the flash capacitor 102. As a result, electric charges are accumulated in the flash capacitor 102.

Power source 104 generally includes a DC battery cell that provides a low voltage source. Flash charging circuit 106
Acts to convert this low voltage into an output signal. This output signal is applied to flash capacitor 102 to store energy in the flash capacitor at a higher voltage level to cause light from flash tube 112 to be emitted. This high voltage level includes voltages of 250-350 vdc, with low voltages typically below 32 volts. In this regard, the flash charging circuit 106 may comprise any known voltage step up circuit. This circuit includes, but is not limited to, so-called "press and hold" charging circuits and "one touch charging" circuits well known to those skilled in the art. Examples of both "press-hold" and "one-touch charging" circuits that can be effectively used for such purposes are given in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 033,482 ("CAMERA ELECTRONIC"). SYS
TEM AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLINGSAME ", 200
December 27, 2nd, Douglas W Constable (Dougla
s W. Constable)).

The flash discharge circuit 108 forms an electric circuit between the flash capacitor 102 and the flash tube 112. The flash discharge circuit 108 is electrically connected to the detector 90 in series. The detector senses that the shutter blade 62 is at the flash trigger position in the path of travel and produces a signal. In this regard, the detector 90 may include an electro-optical sensor, ie, an electromechanical switch that produces a signal when the shutter engages it. The detector 90 can also include an electromagnetic sensor. The electromagnetic sensor senses the shutter blade by generating an electromagnetic field and detecting a change in the electromagnetic field that occurs when the shutter blade 62 passes through this electromagnetic field. Other known detection devices may be used for detector 90.

A particularly effective embodiment of detector 90 is shown. In the present embodiment, the detector 90 includes a contact portion 94. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact portion 94 and the shutter blade 62 are electrically wired in series to the elastic member attachment portion 66, the elastic member 68 and the leads 114, 116, 118. The contact portion 94, the shutter blade 62, the elastic member mounting portion 66, and the elastic member 68 are electrically conductive, and electrically define a serial electric path between the flash condenser 102 and the flash tube 112. The contact portion 94 and the shutter blade 62 are electrically insulated from each other except when the shutter blade 62 is in a position where the shutter blade 62 engages with the contact portion 94. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 5, the shutter blade 62 and the contact portion 94 are provided.
Engagement with occurs when the shutter blade 62 reaches the second position. That is, when the shutter blade 62 is in the second position, the shutter blade 62 electrically engages the contact portion 94. As a result, a signal is generated, and this signal causes the flash discharge circuit 108 to transfer the electric energy accumulated in the flash capacitor 102 to the flash tube 1.
12 is applied. As a result, flash capacitor 1
The energy stored in 02 is released and flashlight is emitted from the flash tube 112. Therefore, in the camera of FIGS. 1 and 2, the flash light is emitted from the flash tube 112 in synchronization with the operation of the shutter blade 62 in the exposure cycle.
Emits light.

The camera exposure controller 54 further comprises a controller including a stop 120 and a drive member 122.
The stop 120 is selectively movable from a position outside the movement path of the shutter blade 62 to a position inside the movement path of the shutter blade 62. In the illustrated embodiment,
The drive member 122 includes a dial rotatably attached to an attachment portion 124 joined to the flash board 56 of the exposure control device 54 of the camera. The stop 120 and the drive member 122 are joined together and move together. The user control unit 126 is further joined to the driving member 122 and moves together.

The camera exposure controller 54 is attached to the first cover 22.
When joined to, the user control unit 126 projects from the control opening 50 of the first cover 22. The user of the camera 20 can determine the rotational position of the driving member 122 using the user control unit 126 and selectively dispose the stop 120 with respect to the movement path of the shutter blade 62. When the stop 120 is outside the movement path of the shutter blade 62, the shutter mechanism 60 operates as described above. on the other hand,
When the stop 120 is in the path of travel of the shutter blade 62, the stop 120 prevents the shutter blade 62 from reaching the second position. This has two effects. As a first effect, it is possible to prevent the flash discharge circuit 108 from closing. If the flash discharge circuit 108 cannot be closed, release of flash energy from the flash capacitor 102 is prohibited and no flash light is emitted from the flash tube 112. The second effect is
The exposure time is shortened because the movement of the shutter blade 62 is limited. As described above, the camera exposure control device 54 enables the user of the camera 20 to selectively activate the flash, and the exposure time is automatically adjusted by utilizing the selective flash activation permission operation by the user. Extend. On the contrary, if the operation of the flash is prohibited, the exposure time is shortened.

Here, the embodiment of the exposure control apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 activates the flash in the condition that the user has a low light level, and prohibits the activation of the flash in the condition of a higher light level. It can be seen that the flash exposure strategy is executed assuming that. Based on this assumption, the exposure controller 54 of FIGS. 3-5 optimizes the appearance of low light level images by the means of providing artificial illumination to extend the exposure time. Further based on this assumption, it is believed that the exposure controller 54 constructed according to the embodiment of FIGS. 3-5 will be a scene with higher levels of ambient light by limiting the exposure time to prevent overexposure. Optimize the appearance of the image taken.

In one embodiment of the present invention, exposure controller 54 further includes flash charge control switch 110.
128 joined to the drive member 122 in close proximity to the
Is characterized by. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the pin 1
28 is located on the drive member 122, and when the drive member 122 is rotated from the flash prohibited position to the flash operation position, the pin 128 is moved to the flash charge control switch 110.
From the first pin position (A) away from the second pin position (B) where the pin 128 presses the flash charge control switch 110 and the third pin position (C) away from the flash charge control switch 110. ) Move to. It can be seen that this movement provides a one-touch depression of the flash charge control switch 110, which can be used to activate the "one-touch" type flash charge circuit 106. Alternatively, the pin 128 and the flash charge control switch 110 are arranged such that the pin 128 pushes the flash charge control switch 110 and holds the flash charge control switch 110 in the depressed position when the drive member 122 is in the flash actuated position. You can also Thus, a lower cost press hold circuit can be used for the camera flash charging circuit 106. Note that in any of the above options, the operation of moving the drive member 122 from the flash prohibited position to the flash operation position is to start charging the flash capacitor 102 and move the shutter blade 62 of the stop 120 to the outside of the movement path. It realizes both functions of.

FIGS. 8 to 12 respectively show different embodiments of the exposure control device 54, and explain how the above-mentioned exposure control strategy is implemented by the respective embodiments.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,
The drive member 122 is attached to the base 56 by a pivot shaft 130. The drive member 122 can move around the pivot shaft 130 by pivoting between the flash operating position shown in FIG. 8 and the flash prohibiting position shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the stop 120 is provided at one end of the drive member 122 and the user control 126 is located at the other end. When the user control 126 is held in the flash actuated position shown in FIG. 8, the stop 120 is located outside the path of travel of the shutter blade 62.
In this case, as described above, the shutter blade 62 engages the contact portion 94 during the exposure cycle, and the flash light is emitted. On the other hand, when the user control 126 moves to the flash prohibition position shown in FIG. 9, the stop 120 is positioned in the movement path of the shutter blade 62. Therefore, the shutter blade cannot engage the contact portion 94 during the exposure cycle, and the flash light is not emitted.

A pin 128 is shown in the embodiment of FIGS. The pin 128 is joined to the driving member 122, and when the driving member moves from the flash inhibition position to the flash operation position, the pin 128 depresses the flash charging control switch 110. As a result, the operation of the flash charging circuit 106 is started, and when the user desires to operate the flash, the charging of the flash capacitor 102 can be started.

Another embodiment is shown in FIGS. In this embodiment, the drive member 122 is shown in FIG.
It is mounted on the flash board 56 so as to be slidable between the flash operating position shown in 0 and the flash prohibiting position shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the stop 120 is attached to one end of the drive member 122 and the user control 126 is located at the other end.
When the user control 126 is held in the flash actuated position shown in FIG. 10, the stop 120 is located outside the path of travel of the shutter blade 62. As described above, this causes the shutter blade 62 to engage the contact 94 during the exposure cycle and emit a flash of light. On the other hand, when the user control 126 moves to the flash prohibition position shown in FIG. 11, the stop 120 causes the shutter blade 6 to move.
Located in the second path. Therefore, the shutter blade cannot engage the contact portion 94 during the exposure cycle, and the flash light is not emitted.

Pin 128 is shown in the embodiment of FIGS. The pin 128 is joined to the driving member 122, and when the driving member moves from the flash inhibition position to the flash operation position, the pin 128 depresses the flash charging control switch 110. As a result, the operation of the flash charging circuit 106 is started, and when the user desires to operate the flash, the charging of the flash capacitor 102 can be started.

12 and 13, the exposure control device 54 is shown.
Yet another embodiment of is shown. In this embodiment, the stop 120 is provided on the elastic support 134. The elastic support portion 134 is elastically biased to a position where the elastic support portion 134 arranges the stop 120 in the movement path of the shutter blade 62. In this embodiment,
The drive member 122 is slidably movable from the flash inhibition position shown in FIG. 12 to the flash operation position shown in FIG. The drive member 122 is also formed of an elastic substrate. A deflection surface 136 is located within the slidable path of movement of the drive member 122,
22 bends when it moves from the flash inhibition position to the flash operation position. When the driving member 122 further moves to the flash operation position, the elastic support portion 134 further bends. When the shutter blade 62 moves from the first position to the second position, the elastic support portion 134 bends at a certain point so that the stop 120 is located outside the movement path of the shutter blade 62. It should be noted that when the drive member 122 retracts from the flash operation position to the flash prohibition position shown in FIG. 12, the flexibility of the elastic support portion 134 decreases, and as a result, the stop 120 returns to the movement path of the shutter blade 62.

The above embodiment can also be used to implement another exposure control strategy that shortens the exposure time when the flash is activated and increases the exposure time when the flash is inhibited. This strategy reduces the likelihood of overexposure during flash operation and underexposure when flash is inhibited.

In any of the above embodiments, this alternative strategy places the detector 90 on the stop 120 and the detector 90 detects the shutter blade 62 when the stop 120 is in the path of travel of the shutter blade 62. If the stop 120 is outside the movement path of the shutter blade 62, it can be performed by preventing the detector 90 from detecting the shutter blade 62. An example of this is shown in FIG. FIG. 14 shows the exposure controller 54 of FIG. 3 adapted to this method. As shown in FIG. 14, the contact portion 94 is located on the stop 120, and is incorporated in the flash discharge circuit 108 by electrical connection by the conductive wire 118. In this embodiment, the conductive wire 118 is flexible. Conductor 116 is further provided with sufficient length to allow contact 94 to move from the position shown in FIG. 14 to the position shown in FIG. When the stop 120 is in the position shown in FIG. 14, when the stop moves from the position shown in FIG. 14 to the position shown in FIG. 15, both the stop 120 and the contact portion 94 are outside the movement path of the shutter blade 62. It is in. Stop 120
When the exposure is started with the contact portion 94 and the contact portion 94 in this position, the force applied by the high energy lever 80 drives the shutter blade 62 from the first position to the second position. When the second position is reached, the shutter blade 62 moves to the post 92.
And then returns to the first position by the biasing force applied by the elastic member 68. The contact portion 94 is the shutter blade 62.
, The flash discharge circuit 108 is not closed during exposure and the flash is effectively inhibited.

However, the stop 120 and the contact portion 9
When the exposure is started in the state where 4 is in the position shown in FIG. 16, the shutter blade 62 strikes the contact portion 94 and the stop 120 from the first position by the force applied by the high energy lever 80. Driven to position. This has two effects. First
Then, the flash discharge circuit 108 is closed by the engagement of the contact portion 94 and the shutter blade 62. As a result, flash light is emitted from the flash tube 112. Furthermore, since the shutter blade 62 cannot move to the second position, the exposure time is limited. Thus, the shutter time is effectively limited when the flash operates.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an assembly view of a camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the exposure control apparatus in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the exposure control apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the exposure control apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the exposure control apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4, in which flash operation is prohibited.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the exposure control device, showing a first cover,
The base and drive member are shown in cross-section, and the interaction of the first cover, drive member, user controlled features, pins, flash charge control switch is shown.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the exposure control apparatus, showing a control characteristic unit,
The relationship between a drive member, a pin, and a flash charge control switch is shown.

FIG. 8 is a front view of one embodiment of the exposure control apparatus,
The rotatably mounted drive member is in the flash inhibit position.

9 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 8 with the drive member in the flash actuated position.

FIG. 10 is a front view of one embodiment of an exposure control apparatus having a slidable drive member, the slidable drive member being in a flash operating position.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the embodiment of FIG. 10 in which the drive member is in the flash prohibited position.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing another embodiment of an exposure control apparatus having a stop located on an elastic support and a slidably movable driving member located at a flash operating position.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the embodiment of FIG. 12, in which the drive member is in the flash prohibited position.

FIG. 14 is another embodiment of an exposure control apparatus having a contact located on a stop, the drive member being in a flash inhibit position.

FIG. 15 is another embodiment of an exposure control apparatus having a contact located on a stop, the drive member being in a flash inhibit position.

FIG. 16 shows the embodiment of FIGS. 14 and 15 with the contact part located on the stop and the drive member located in the flash actuation position.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 camera, 22 first cover, 24 second cover,
26 frame, 30 winding mechanism, 32 film canister holder, 34 film supply reel area, 36
Image capturing area, 38 film supply reel, 40 film canister, 42 film, 44 hub, 48 light opening, 50 control opening, 52 lens, 54 exposure control device, 56 flash board, 58 light passage, 6
0 shutter mechanism, 62 shutter blades, 64 swivel shaft, 66 elastic member mounting portion, 68 elastic member, 70
Spacer, 72 upper surface, 74 passage, 78 stop, 80 high energy lever, 82 latch, 84 trigger button, 86 latch drive surface, 88 shutter drive surface, 90 detector, 92 post, 94 contact part, 10
0 flash circuit, 102 flash capacitor,
104 power supply, 106 flash charging circuit, 108
Flash discharge circuit, 110 flash charge control switch, 112 flash tube, 114 lead wire, 1
16 conductors, 118 conductors, 120 stops, 122
Drive member, 124 mounting portion, 126 user control, 128 pin, 130 pivot, 134 elastic support portion, 136 flexure surface.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme Coat (reference) G03B 15/05 G03B 15/05 (72) Inventor Joel Esrosser United States New York East Rochester Westwood Drive 30 F term (Reference) 2H002 AB04 AB05 CC01 CD03 FB12 HA21 2H053 AA08 AB01 AB03 AB07 AD04 CA41 2H081 AA48 BB05 CC62 2H082 BB06 BB23 BB26 CC02 CC24 DD08

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A camera exposure control apparatus, comprising: a shutter that is movable on a movement path between a first position and a second position during an exposure period; and a shutter that senses the shutter and the shutter is on the movement path. A detector that generates a signal when in the flash trigger position, a flash circuit that receives the signal generated by the detector, and emits a flash light when the signal is received, and a shutter from a position outside the movement path of the shutter. A camera exposure control apparatus comprising: a stop that can be selectively moved at a position within a movement path of a shutter; and whether the detector can detect the shutter during exposure depending on the position of the stop. . 2. A camera exposure control device, which is movable between a first rotation position and an exposure position range terminating at a second position, the first rotation after the movement to the second rotation position. The shutter is electrically connected to the shutter and includes a conductive shutter that is biased to return to a moving position, a contact portion that electrically engages the shutter, an electrically charged capacitor, and a flash tube. Is electrically engaged with the contact portion, allows electrical energy from the electrically charged capacitor to pass through the flash tube, a camera flash circuit, and the shutter selectively disposed in a path of movement of the shutter. Between a flash-off position that prohibits engagement of the shutter with the contact portion and a flash-on position that allows engagement of the shutter with the contact portion during movement of the shutter. The camera exposure control device comprising: a stop possible a. 3. A camera comprising: a housing having an opening for allowing light from a scene to enter; an imaging gate for positioning an imaging surface to receive light from the scene; and a movement path during an exposure period. A shutter movable between a first position that inhibits light from the scene from reaching the imaging surface and a second position that allows movement of light from the scene to the imaging surface; A detector that senses the shutter and generates a signal when the shutter is at the flash trigger position in the movement path, and a flash circuit that receives the signal generated by the detector and emits a flash light when the signal is received. And a stop that is selectively movable from a position outside the movement path of the shutter to a position inside the movement path of the shutter. Position determines whether the detector can sense the shutter during exposure, the detector is positioned on the stop, and the movement of the shutter is impeded in the third position, the detector detects A camera that generates a signal and does not generate a signal when the stop is outside the path of travel of the shutter and the shutter passes the third position.